Hello PRSA Sailors,
This notification contains important information about the current restrictions on the Potomac River. The current Safety Zone is adjacent to National Airport, extending E-W from the airport shore to the navigation channel and N-S (roughly) from the end of Runway 33 (the gravel “bump out” in the river) to the southern tip of the airport. Please see the attached diagrams for reference (the zone is denoted by the “box” diagram on chart #1 and by the pink “T” symbols demarcating a box on chart #2, which is the current NOAA ECR Chart).
Entering the Safety Zone is prohibited. We have been in touch with The Captain of the Port (COTP) Maryland-National Capital Region and received the following information:
- There are no exceptions to the Safety Zone prohibitions. Being a sailboat needing to traverse the area does not exempt you from the exclusion zone rule.
- Entering the safety zone to avoid traffic in the channel is prohibited.
For the time being, please keep in mind that all river traffic will be using the marked channel on the east side of the river in this area. At PRSA, we are assessing what this might mean for our Spring Series and we are in contact with local officials. We will update you if/when we receive new information.
